#25 - PEARL HARBOR raid - Akagi's fighters

AI-101 was flown by PO1c Tadao Kimura, a wingman of AI-102 - second wave. In 1974, he wrote that he flew AI-109, yet upon viewing quality prints of AI-101 he confirmed that he saw himself in the cockpit.

AI-101 photo #1Aireview magazine in 1965-67 produced a nice series on Japanese Naval aviation tail markings. Within this series are several side views of noted aircraft. One of these was AI-101 "flown by Lt Comdr Shigeru Itaya" leader of the first wave Zeros at Pearl Harbor, with two yellow stripes on the tail for a Buntaicho (squadron leader). The photos of AI-101 do NOT show any command stripes. This caused a huge puzzle. Second wave leader of a unit of D3A VALs is Zenji Abe. He paused for a photo by Zero AI-105 in route to his bomber that morning and in the background is AI-101...a second wave plane. This means the pilot was not Itaya but from the second wave. Info Credit: http://www.pearlharborattacked.com

AI-101 photo #2

AI-101 aviation art #1

AI-101 box art #1M. Asano and H. Yoshimura, showed a photo of AI-101 to Saburo Shindo, second wave leader of all Zeros. He knew that it was not his plane. "Kodochosho" documents assure that the plane then MUST be Tadao Kimura, Shindo's #2 wingman, the number three wingman. On showing the photo to Kimura, he jumped as he recognized himself. For years he thought he had flown another plane. The late Tadao Kimura flew the Zero AI-101, and not with command stripes as illustrated in 1965-67 Aireview series. AI-155 is best estimate of researcher K Osuo. Info Credit: http://www.pearlharborattacked.com and picture from Tamiya 1/48 scale Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero" Fighter "Prop-Action" plastic model kit # 61509. This kit features the "Prop-Action" motorized propelled option.

AI-102 was flown by a buntaicho, Lt. Saburo Shindo - second wave.

AI-102 photo #1Note the wider stripe above the "Zero" tail code of this Buntaicho marking that may be Shindo's fighter tail code AI-102.

AI-102 photo #2Lt. Shindo's A6M2 was the first on the second wave that takes off at 07:15. Akagi's 9 planes escorted 27 Zuikaku's Kates. At 9:10, after the bombing of the Hickam Air Base, Shindo's Buntai subject the base to three strafing attacks, targeting planes, offices, technical buildings and ground crews.

AI-154 photo #1At 08:10, anti-aircraft fire from USS Helm and Fort Kamehameha, to south of Hickam, brings down PO1c Takeshi Hirano's Zero fighter. Hirano was wingman to the leader of the 1st wave escorts. He crashed into Building 52 at Fort Kamehameha killing himself and 3 soldiers. During Pearl Harbor attack, aircraft carrier AKAGI had only one A6M2 shot down: the plane flown by Hirano. Japanese pilots had total devotion on duty, include the self-sacrifice if was necessary.

Lt. Cmdr. Shigeru Itaya photo #1Lt. Cmdr. Itaya was the Hikotaicho or overall leader of the first wave fighter force. His Buntai of 9 Akagi's fighters escorted Shokaku's Vals. Itaya's unit flies south over Honolulu then return to strafe John Rodgers Field at 07:57. Later, at 08:00, they attacked Hickam field, strafing the army bomber air base. They made three strafing circles each, targeting the hangars and apron. One B-17 flying from California to Oahu was in landing approach and hit by Itaya in the air... and it landed and burn in two. Itaya was credited with an aerial victory, though the aircraft did land! between 08:15 and 08:30 this unit strafed the Ewa MACS.